Report
on the Spooners & West Dartmoor Foxhounds Point to Point at Cherry Brook
Tavistock on Sunday 6th April 2003.
Well we didn't have any luck yesterday with The Grand National but with this lovely weather continuing I am sure things will come our way at Cherry Brook. I was informed in the week that the course was being watered so as I walked around in brilliant sunshine I soon found out that the Clerk of the Course here had done a wonderful job in getting this circuit up to this standard with such dry weather over the last few weeks. A good and regular covering of water had been supplied even this very morning and the course would pass as 'Good' going. Well done and congratulations to Adrian Ross and his team. You deserve to be well supported today.
One dog on one lead is one thing but two dogs on two leads in one hand in front of the investment area in amongst investors concentrating on the prices on the boards is a bit much but we had a laugh today. There was this gentleman holding two leads whilst perusing the boards for a good price or information that might give him a winner when it became obvious to us investors that on the end of one lead was a brown and white JR but on the other end of the second lead hung a limp tartan collar swinging in the breeze with its intended occupant - long gone! The embarrassed holder of leads could only say before departing in great haste - - Oh Gosh! It's the wife's as well - - Poochee! Poochee! - were are you?- Surprisingly there was no reply and we laughed on!
Which brings me to the dangerous part - after seeing that black lurcher chasing the galloping horses up to the open ditch, my heart missed a beat and fortunately no harm came to this episode but it must not be allowed to happen. Dogs on leads and the occasional look to see that they are still there and that the lead has not been chewed through or otherwise disposed of - IS A MUST!
Only three for the first race -The Active Services Hunt Race. I chose the best turned out Mrs Wilson's WICKED IMP (Mark Munrowd) to carry my first investment of the day but it was such a skinny price that the chances of being made rich and filling the tin was not on, but at least I would get something. (provided it won!). The opposition was Wayne Smith riding Mr Wilkins's LUCKY COOMBE and the Cole's YAFA. Unfortunately LUCKY COOMBE fell and my concern made easy work for the remainder of the race, jumping really well and came home in a time of six minutes eighteen seconds and a distance to the good of YAFA. Some for the tin which will replace some I took out yesterday and lost on Rooster Booster -the jockey dropped his whip. I bet he doesn't drop anything when he goes home for tea with his future Granny-in-Law!
Ten to post for The Condy Mathias (Chartered Accountants) sponsored restricted race with again the best turned out T Neill's JOLLY RED (O Jackson) being made favourite and even money was all that was offered for this one. The remainder were much better prices and five to one and above was offered except for Ms Evans's ABRAKADALPHA (S Blackwell) which was second favourite at seven to two early but by the time I got there to avail myself of this investment it was down to five to two. In tin and out with a little and on to this second favourite. The jointly owned LYDFORD CASTLE (L Heard) was a real big price for a horse with consistency, and was available at 25 to 1, whilst Mr & Mrs Cox's INDIANA JOHN (T Dennis), The Chase Club's IT'S-THE-BIZ (J Young), Ken & John Heard's BILL ME UP (C Heard) and Mark Treneer's ITWORKED all carried about the same on form points and were available at tasty prices. The favourite did not get off to a very good start but the remainder set a good pace led by LYDFORD CASTLE. At the first ditch it was obvious that JOLLY RED (fav) was running very green and not giving Ollie the best of journeys at the moment. The remainder cleared it and went off out into the country with LYDFORD CASTLE leading closely followed by my interest -ABRAKADALPHA -then came a closely bunched group, all going well! We lost ITWORKED out around fence six or seven but the remainder carried on at a good pace. With a complete circuit to run it was BILL ME UP from ABRAKADALPHA with IT'S THE BIZ in close company followed by ELEGANT LIGHT (S Robinson) and INDIANA JOHN (T Dennis). At the fence at the far end of the course it was still BILL ME UP, IT'S THE BIZ and ABRAKADALPHA that led the field which was now beginning to spread out. The final three fences saw a good race between BILL ME UP and IT'S THE BIZ with Colin Heard getting the better of the duel to bring his charger home by five lengths from James Young and young Liam Heard urging LYDFORD CASTLE to rally and come in eight lengths back in third place. Fourth was my investment carrier who did not manage to stay the pace and brought me in -nothing! There were a good collection of Heards in the winners enclosure to welcome in this popular winner who was returned at a tasty five to one and as I watched Ken spring over the fence into the winners enclosure it was obvious that 'he had a bit of that' as the saying goes! The REALLY good news is that Ruth also 'had a bit of that' and was off to collect to replenish the bag!
Only three entries for The Ward & Chowen Ladies open race but nevertheless, three good pointers, one who doesn't know what it is like to lose a race in Charlotte Stucley's PHOENIX PHLYER with four consecutive wins, Roma Cook's best turned out HASTEN BAK (Lucy Gardner) who won his last race and Lucinda Sweeting's WAG THE BRUSH Tabitha Cave) who was second in his last ladies open race at Wadebridge. The good pace was set by PHOENIX PHLYER with HASTEN BAK making sure it was maintained by keeping right in touch. WAG THE BRUSH did not take part in this up front race and continued at a more sedate style several lengths behind. On completing one full circuit it was still PHOENIX PHLYER leading with HASTEN BAK just a length or two behind but WAG THE BRUSH was getting even more detached and was about 15 lengths back in third. The pace continued and as they cleared the open ditch for the final time and went off into the country the order was the same. No horse having any jumping difficulties but Charlotte was determined to maintain a good pace and Lucy was likewise keeping in touch, with Tabitha using her best eyesight to keep them both in view. Passing the starting area for the final time it was obvious that HASTEN BAK had had enough of this pace and was slowing a little, PHOENIX PHLYER kept on going and WAG THE BRUSH began to wag his tail, catch hold of the bit and was closing -not much but a little. After fence eight WAG THE BRUSH passed HASTEN BAK and went off in pursuit of the pace setter. The remainder of the race was very exciting as we witnessed the slow but sure overhaul of the odds on favourite -the pace had taken its toll and the patiently ridden WAG THE BRUSH jumped up alongside this long time leader and gradually but very surely overhauled her. I don't know if Tabitha said 'hello' or 'good-bye' on passing Charlotte but either would have been appropriate as she took her charge on to win by two and a half lengths with Lucy a distance behind on HASTEN BAK. The cheers were from those that backed the outsider of three in this race but really I don't think many expected this result. Well done!
The Pippa Langston Memorial Novice Riders Confined race saw six go to post with Liam Heard up on Mrs Welsh & Mrs Treneer's BOMBA CHARGER being made the odds on favourite with any one of the remaining five set up as second favourite. I think at the time of the off it had been decided by investors that either Mrs Shaw's BONNY RIGG (Vanessa Shaw) or R Oliver's best turned out DIGITALIS (Simon Partridge) would follow the favourite home but it was not the case. The favourite had no trouble in winning this one and did so by eight lengths but it was Andy Oliver on his BRIDGE HOUSE BOY that fooled a lot of punters and came in second at a very good each way price with figures like 33 to 1 being available. DESTIN D'ESTRUVAL (L Burns) was a few lengths back in third and my investment carrier BONNY RIGG, well ridden, could only make fourth. Vanessa - you now owe me money and I require it back very soon so please take note!! We certainly do have a good bunch of novice riders here in the Westcountry and they are sure to provide us with competitive racing in the future.
The Newton Abbott Racecourse Intermediate race was to be an informative race as nine went to post. The Walters's PARTE PRIMA was made favourite and with Les Jefford up this looked a good thing but surely Mrs Edwards's VALMAN (R Darke) and R Mitford-Slade and G Fisher's TEDDY BOY (B Dixon) will give him a good race and the one I fancy is D Pipe's SAJOMI RONA (T Eades) who decided to get rid of his pilot recently but has also won in fine style at Wadebridge. Caroline Prouse riding Mum's best turned out FATHER MANSFIELD also carries form and if Mrs Sanderson's INCY WINCY SPIDER (O Jackson) has been doing work with her Jabiru then this one could come into the reckoning. Off -and the pace was set as a fast one. Tim Dennis on the Three to One Club's CHANGE had a go as did one or two others. We lost R Brassey's VIC'S BRUSH (W White) before one complete circuit but I was pleased to see SAJOMI RONA still intact and going well. On passing the judge for the final time it was SAJOMI RONA who led followed by PARTE PRIMA and CHANGE back in third position. TEDDY BOY who made some mistakes earlier in the race has now decided he likes this job after all and is up there in contention. He has finished fast in the past. With two fences remaining PARTE PRIMA closed up on my investment carrier and went for home. TEDDY BOY was still there and going well. Would he get to PARTE PRIMA? Over the last and PARTE PRIMA had it now on to win by two lengths from TEDDY BOY with SAJOMI RONA five lengths back in third. A good race but not for the tin! Several of my friends had this winner as their 'banker' for this meeting and the cries of 'I told you so!' still echo in my ears but I will have the last laugh I am sure! Will PARTE PRIMA meet KESTICK again?
Only three for the The Waterways Men's open race. I would have expected more support for this as the going is good but it will be ATP Racing Partnership's JUST THE JOB TOO (R McCarthy) who is made odds on favourite and will be challenged by the jointly owned HYLTERS CHANCE (C Heard) and W Turner's best turned out SOMERTON REEF (Les Jefford). A very slow start, never any fear of the tapes being broken or of anyone obtaining a flyer as they were all reluctant to get going. Eventually it did get off and SOMERTON REEF eventually made it to the front and cruised on at a very sedate pace. This cat and mouse tactic continued for most of the race and the final time of the slowest of the day indicated this. With three to jump, SOMERTON REEF pulled up, and HYLTERS CHANCE took up the running. JUST THE JOB TOO did the job well in the end overcoming HYLTERS CHANCE and finished cruising with more in hand and was seven lengths to the good. Only these two finished. Nothing for the tin or bag! Disastrous!
Finally The Perry's Confined Hunts Maiden Race saw seven go to post. I chose the best turned out R John's PORTERS LODGE (J Young) to surely, put something in the damn tin. What's the point of bringing a tin if you don't use it. I might as well put it all in the bag in the first place. I couldn't get an each way price so it's all on to win. It was difficult to decide who would go off favourite as some early takers fancied P Froud's BRUE HOUND BOY (T Bishop) whilst some went for C Blank's BENGAL BULLET (S Gainsford) and there was a little bit that went on Colin Heard who was riding Mrs Welsh's GUNNER'S MISTAKE. Off they go (also a little prayer!) On passing the judge for the first time it was J Down's DARK VENETIAN (M Sweetland) who was leading followed by BENGAL BULLET with M Smale's STRAIGHT COURAGE (L Burns) in third place but only for a short while. BRUE HOUND BOY travelling well as was GUNNER'S MISTAKE. En route to the open ditch for the final time it was BENGAL BULLET, PORTERS LODGE and GUNNER'S MISTAKE in that order and pulling away from the remainder of the field. At the top of the hill BENGAL BULLET and my concern had pulled away from the remainder and it was clear that these two were going to fight it out for the remainder of the race. Why? It would be much easier for me if PORTERS LODGE went on by half a dozen lengths and made it easy but no! I just have to pick one that's 'going to fight it out!'. I have got the top off the tin now and then promptly dropped it -that is a poor omen if ever there was one. I must remember when I am in my shed this week to make a rope attachment so that if in future I might drop it, it will never reach the deck, but I expect that man with two dogs, two leads, two hands, said something similar when he harnessed them both up before getting out of the car. He finished up with only one attached. On reaching fence 16 BENGAL BULLET was still pushing the pace but Jamie Young was not going to give up easily and was still in touch. With two fences to go -the same, with one fence to go -the same, the winning line- the same. First by three lengths BENGAL BULLET, second PORTERS LODGE and twenty lengths further back was GUNNER'S MISTAKE. I lost BUT congratulations to the winner. Sarah Gaisford gave this horse one peach of a ride and deserved the success she got but it didn't help my tin one tiny little bit.
Thank you Spooners and West Dartmoor for a lovely day out in perfect weather but its back to the drawing board. Ruth is off to Coventry for three days to earn some more money and if she is back by next weekend I intend to 'borrow' some, then pick up the granddaughter and take her advice in an attempt to win a little at the Dartmoor Foxhounds meeting at Flete Park and then on to either the Cotswold Vale Farmers at Maisemore Park or the West Somerset Vale at Cothelstone. BE THERE!
My mother taught me: CONTORTIONISM:
-Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!
Fred & Ruth
